Low calorie recipes

Right now it's aspragus season, we have lots of fresh and local aspragus in almost all the grocery stores. Quick and easy to prepare, great flavor and health benefit make the asparagus a hero at our dinner table.

Quick vegetarian crêpes stuffed with sautéed zucchini, green beans, fresh corn, ricotta, and Monterey Jack cheese. Topped with a tangy chive-lemon sour cream sauce and ready in under 30 minutes.

A simple and tasty salsa recipe that doesn't take a lot of time to make!

Cajun cole slaw with shredded cabbage, sweet bell peppers, and onions tossed in a spicy Louisiana hot sauce dressing built on mayo, mustard, ketchup, and Worcestershire. Big-batch picnic side with a kick.

Best borscht: a ruby-red Russian beet soup loaded with potatoes, cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes in a rich beef broth, finished with a swirl of sour cream and fresh dill. Hearty yet light.

Mexican grilled corn (elote) slathers charred ears in a lightened mayo-yogurt chili sauce, then dusts them with salty cotija and a squeeze of lime. A healthier take on the street-food classic.

Mozzarella stuffed turkey burgers hide a basil-mozzarella pocket inside lean turkey patties, topped with a quick sun-dried tomato marinara and served on toasted focaccia. A restaurant-style Italian burger for 4.

Irish oatmeal bacon pancakes made with fine oatmeal, buttermilk, and a beaten egg, filled with fried bacon rashers and folded over with a smear of mustard. A hearty Irish breakfast in 20 minutes.

Cheesy vegetable rice bake with zucchini, green pepper, cheddar and cream cheese. A comforting low-calorie casserole that comes together in about an hour.

Pounded chicken breasts stuffed with mushrooms, carrots, and tomato, rolled into medallions, and simmered in a light lemon-thyme sauce. Low-calorie and elegant.

Grilled salmon sandwich on pumpernickel with a garlic-lemon-dill sauce, tarragon-seasoned fillets, Boston lettuce, and Roma tomatoes. Light, bright, and low calorie.

Low-calorie calzones made with frozen bread dough, stuffed with spinach, fat-free mozzarella, tomato paste, mushrooms, and a splash of red wine. Golden, cheesy, and guilt-free.

Oven-baked Hawaiian turkey kebabs with pineapple, bell pepper, onion, and cherry tomatoes glazed in a soy-curry-ginger sauce. Low-calorie and ready in 30 minutes.

Overlapping slices of zucchini and ripe tomatoes baked with bell pepper, onion, and olive oil until crisp-tender. A vegan, low-calorie side that looks as gorgeous as it tastes.

A creamy, low-calorie vegetable chowder with broccoli, mushrooms, corn, and pimiento in a light chicken broth and evaporated milk base. Warm, filling comfort food on the table in 30 minutes.

Microwave minestrone with celery, carrots, potatoes, green beans, zucchini, and broken spaghetti in tomato broth. Low-calorie one-pot soup that cooks entirely in the microwave in 30 minutes.